Different Premiums for Health Insurance at Minnesota and Wisconsin BorderMonday, November 4th, 2013 -- 8:49 amPosted by Riley Hebert-News Director

-Residents along the Minnesota and Wisconsin state borders are paying different premiums for individual health insurance policies, depending on where they live.

An analysis shows premiums on the Minnesota side of the St. Croix River are lower than those in Wisconsin.

Insurance agent Dennis Conger said health exchange premiums in Wisconsin's Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties are nearly twice the rate as premiums in the Twin Cities.

Some say the disparity could be due to a lack of competition among insurance companies on the Wisconsin side. Others say lower premiums in the Twin Cities could stem from narrower network health plans, where consumers pay less, but face more limits on doctors they can see. Those plans weren't available east of the river.